RE: Official: Mercedes A45 AMG

RE: Official: Mercedes A45 AMG

Author
Discussion

_rubinho_

1,237 posts

184 months

Saturday 6th July 2013
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SonicHedgeHog said:
CraigyMc said:
I've also driven both of them and have no idea why Sonic has that opinion.

C
Fine. Perhaps you could reeducate me? How is the C63 significantly better when:

1. Sitting on a busy motorway on the way to work.
2. Driving to the supermarket and returning laden with bags of food.
3. Driving anywhere around town.
4. Driving with anyone else who doesn't want you to drive like you stole it.
5. Driving on any road with lots of traffic and no overtaking opportunities.
6. Driving when you're tired and just not in the mood.

I am not saying that the diesel is a 95% C63. What I am saying is that 95% of the time you cannot use the extra performance the C63 has over the diesel. I accept there is a feel good factor in owning a great car and the interior is spruced up, but you do pay handsomely for it.

For the record, if I could afford a C63 (and by "afford" mean live where i want to live, still take 4 good holidays a year, maintain a good level of savings, keep paying into the pension and not have to constantly monitor the current account overdraft) then I would seriously consider getting one. But I can't and so spending all that extra money on a car isn't worth it. But we're all different.
Irrespective of the prevailing traffic conditions you can always hear that V8, even at walking pace. This in and of itself makes it 100% better than a C220 CDI all of the time. I should know I've owned both (well a C250 CDI and C63 AMG anyway). The noise... cool

ETA: Back on topic, the CLA is a seriously good looking car. I'd have one in AMG spec tomorrow given the chance.

Edited by _rubinho_ on Saturday 6th July 14:40

ukwill

8,915 posts

208 months

Thursday 11th July 2013
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4.1 to 60
12.6 quarter at 112mph

None to shoddy then...

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gPzCbTNpPWg&deskt...

dinkel

26,962 posts

259 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
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How good does that CLS63 AMG look.

OT: this is funny: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IyLk30H4BE

va1o

16,032 posts

208 months

Thursday 25th July 2013
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Got a Shooting Brake CLS not dissimilar to that in the office car park, stunning looking thing

ukwill

8,915 posts

208 months

Monday 19th August 2013
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finally got round to a testdrive. going to the mercedes track in weybridge later in the week to test out the a45 back to back with the c63. will post my thoughts.

scherzkeks

4,460 posts

135 months

Monday 19th August 2013
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SonicHedgeHog said:
Ironically, I a trying to get my dad to buy an A45. We wants an automatic and 4wd in a non-offroader package and there is very little to choose from. Yes, he could get an S3, but it would be far cheaper to get a lifetime supply of tranquillisers and the effect would be much the same. He has no mortgage, no kids to look after, the house is done and he is happily retired so for him it makes a lot of sense. So I am not being deliberately awkward wrt the C63.
I'd wager you've never driven even half of the cars you are discussing in this thread. A 300 hp AWD hatch that weighs 3100 lbs. is equivalent to a load of tranquilizers?

A master class in trolling. Bravo.

pilchardthecat

7,483 posts

180 months

Tuesday 20th August 2013
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Does anyone know if the 360PS/40mpg is on super-unleaded? am doing some man maths

(Yes i know i wont get 40mpg anyway)

Wolands Advocate

2,495 posts

217 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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I was surprised to see Autocar only clocked a 5.2 sec dash to 60 in the A45 given the epic power output and 4wd drive. They were surprised too, noting that under similar test conditions, they got an RS3 to 60 in 4.5 secs and an automatic M135i to 60 in 4.6 secs.

DonkeyApple

55,430 posts

170 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
quotequote all
Wolands Advocate said:
I was surprised to see Autocar only clocked a 5.2 sec dash to 60 in the A45 given the epic power output and 4wd drive. They were surprised too, noting that under similar test conditions, they got an RS3 to 60 in 4.5 secs and an automatic M135i to 60 in 4.6 secs.
How does this data match up to the data on ad spend for the three?

pilchardthecat

7,483 posts

180 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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DonkeyApple said:
Wolands Advocate said:
I was surprised to see Autocar only clocked a 5.2 sec dash to 60 in the A45 given the epic power output and 4wd drive. They were surprised too, noting that under similar test conditions, they got an RS3 to 60 in 4.5 secs and an automatic M135i to 60 in 4.6 secs.
How does this data match up to the data on ad spend for the three?
or did they put ASDA 95 ron in it?!

Johnnytheboy

24,498 posts

187 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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The article mentions that it changes gear at about 59 mph which doesn't help and that it needs launch control.

Kronstein

294 posts

130 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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There's a letter from Mercedes Benz UK replying to Autocar's test's ref. to no proper launch control in today's Autocar.

Perhaps the efficacy of Autocar's test figures is in doubt if they didn't use Race Start.

Wolands Advocate

2,495 posts

217 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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DonkeyApple said:
Wolands Advocate said:
I was surprised to see Autocar only clocked a 5.2 sec dash to 60 in the A45 given the epic power output and 4wd drive. They were surprised too, noting that under similar test conditions, they got an RS3 to 60 in 4.5 secs and an automatic M135i to 60 in 4.6 secs.
How does this data match up to the data on ad spend for the three?
Hardly, given that when they group-tested the A45, the M135i and GTI together, they gave the nod to the A45.

braddo

10,522 posts

189 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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Was it Autocar who did the video of the A45 against the CLS63 in a drag race at Bruntingthorpe? Whoever did it, didn't they get something crazy like 4.3 secs 0-60 for the A45?

DonkeyApple

55,430 posts

170 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
quotequote all
Wolands Advocate said:
DonkeyApple said:
Wolands Advocate said:
I was surprised to see Autocar only clocked a 5.2 sec dash to 60 in the A45 given the epic power output and 4wd drive. They were surprised too, noting that under similar test conditions, they got an RS3 to 60 in 4.5 secs and an automatic M135i to 60 in 4.6 secs.
How does this data match up to the data on ad spend for the three?
Hardly, given that when they group-tested the A45, the M135i and GTI together, they gave the nod to the A45.
So Merc have lowered their ad spend then?

urquattroGus

1,849 posts

191 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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I used to respect Autocar. Not lately, and not anymore.

CraigyMc

16,423 posts

237 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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urquattroGus said:
I used to respect Autocar. Not lately, and not anymore.
I've thought of them as bashing out stuff as quickly as possible without checking any details for many many years.

C

Wolands Advocate

2,495 posts

217 months

Thursday 22nd August 2013
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Certainly they are inconsistent.

DonkeyApple

55,430 posts

170 months

Thursday 22nd August 2013
quotequote all
Wolands Advocate said:
Certainly they are inconsistent.
I think the secret lies in which number is larger:

A) The revenue from selling a magazine to retail buyers

B) The revenue from selling ad space to corporates

A business will essentially serve their larger revenue stream. I would go so far as to say that a publication such as AutoCar is not a business about cars at all but an advertising business which has chosen to use cars as a tool to get people to look at adverts.

Anyone who has worked in the sales dept of a publisher knows only too well the editorial and advertorial tricks to maximise ad spend.

The general rule of thumb is that the more adverts in a publication the less believable any or the articles are.

As advertising standards have clamped down more and more on what an advert can say so more and more power has been handed to publishers.

The reality is that if you take the 4 big hatchbacks of the moment, the R32, M135, A45 and RS3 all three are hugely brilliant cars. Now, some buyers will be buying because of brand loyalty and there isn't too much in regards to short term media campaigns that you can do about them so your ad spend will focus on the 'floaters'.

Out of this group a very, very small number will test all 4 and genuinely chose the one that they like and suits them. These are generally the people you never hear from on forums, the largest group, however, is the group that will be swayed by marketing and so what is written by 'independent' media is hugely important. An advert cannot tell someone that the product will make their dick look bigger or get them laid more. An independent article can.

So, how do you try and swing the perception of the independent writer? One way or another it boils down to money. From the most basic 'we won't pay a premium for the FCP at the lead of the article if the article says bad things about our product' right through to 'How did you enjoy your all expenses trip to our temporary test facility in Dubai?'.

The simple truth is that publishers are able to amend subjective details and combine this with the need to increase revenue and you have a very clear scenario. wink

Edited by DonkeyApple on Thursday 22 August 12:24

Kronstein

294 posts

130 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
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Revised (with launch control) 0-60 time for the A45AMG in this week's Autocar of 4.2 seconds.